§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his(a) Indian and (b) Pakistani 86W counterpart concerning the alleged police killing of two civilians near the Jehum Valley Hospital in Srinagar, Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [145292]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI was concerned to hear of the death of two civilians during a gun battle between the security forces and militants in Srinagar on 14 December 2003. Ordinary people have had to pay a heavy price in the continued violence in Kashmir. While I have not raised this specific issue with the Indian and Pakistani Governments, we regularly urge both sides to work together to resolve their differences, including over Kashmir.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had since 4 November with representatives of the Governments of(a) Pakistan and (b) India on progress in dealing with the Kashmir situation. [145293]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienDuring my visit to Pakistan from 9 to 12 December 2003, I met both President Musharraf and Foreign Minister Kasuri. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Vajpayee on 6 December 2003 during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja. During our discussions with both Governments, we warmly welcomed the recent confidence-building measures, including the ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir. We also encouraged both Governments to make sustained efforts to address each other's concerns and to pave the way for a process aimed at settling all their outstanding differences, including the issue of Kashmir. We very much hope that the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation Summit in Islamabad on 4 to 6 January 2004 will enable all the countries of South Asia to take forward their ideas for further regional co-operation.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what confidence-building programmes are(a) funded, (b) supported, (c) proposed and (d) initiated by his Department aimed at resolving the Kashmir situation; and if he will make a statement. [145294]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe British Government fully support the Governments of India and Pakistan in their efforts to improve their relations. We have warmly welcomed the recent confidence-building measures taken by both Governments, including the ceasefire along the Line of Control. Through our Global Conflict Prevention Pool, we fund a variety of activities encouraging contact between India and Pakistan and promoting public debate on reducing conflict in the region. We will continue to encourage both Governments to sustain their efforts to address each other's concerns and to pave the way for a process aimed at settling all their outstanding differences, including the issue of Kashmir.